Couple who murdered grandson in North Wales jailed for life
The toddler's mum has also been sentenced for causing or allowing his death
A couple who murdered their two-year-old grandson in North Wales have been jailed for life.
48-year-old Michael Ives and 46-year-old Kerry Ives, both originally from Wolverhampton, were found guilty after a six-week trial at Mold Crown Court.
They've been handed sentences of 23 years and 17 years respectively.
Ethan Ives-Griffiths moved in with his grandparents for just a matter of weeks in the summer of 2021, but during that time, he was subjected to harrowing neglect and abuse.
That included being put in stress positions, being starved of food and water, and being casually and brutally assaulted, when he didn't conform to Michael's wishes.
That abuse ended with Ethan being murdered by his grandfather.
The two-year-old collapsed inside his grandparents home on 14 August 2021 after suffering a 'catastrophic' brain injury - and died two days later in Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.
He was also found with 40 injuries to his body after he was taken to hospital and died.
The jury heard that Kerry and Michael, both originally from Wolverhampton, were in the room at the time of Ethan's collapse and his mum Shannon, 28, was upstairs.
She was found guilty of child cruelty, and causing or allowing his death.
During sentencing, Ethan's dad William Griffiths said:
"What happened to Ethan has changed everything in my life. At times I don’t feel like that it’s real that Ethan is no longer with us and I often find myself thinking I can hear his affectionate laugh, and it reminds me what a beautiful son he was and how lucky I was to be his dad.
"Ethan will never be forgotten and will always live on in our hearts and I have come to accept that the cherished memories that I do have, now give me comfort rather than pain and grief.
"Although Ethan will be remembered mainly for what he was subjected to by his own mother and grandparents who were the people in his life that were actually meant to love and care for him, I want him to have his own voice and be remembered for the smiley, outgoing loving child that he was.
"I feel that he can now rest in peace knowing that the people that caused him the most harm in this world are now facing their own fate and ask the court to consider that they spend the rest of their days in prison. "
Speaking after the trial, Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Chris Bell said:
"Michael, Kerry and Shannon Ives held positions of responsibility and should have shown Ethan love, care and protection.
"Instead, Michael caused distress, pain and misery to his grandson before brutally taking his life nearly four years ago in August 2021.
"Kerry and Shannon both watched and took no action as the abuse unfolded in the home they all shared.
"Their behaviour was beyond comprehension, and it is impossible to imagine the terror a two-year-old would feel in suffering the horrific injuries he endured - inflicted upon him by those regarded as his closest family.
"We saw from images of Ethan how he significantly deteriorated over the seven-week period he had lived with his grandparents, up until his murder.
"It is not possible to be sure exactly what Ethan experienced behind closed doors during that time, but sadly, we know from the evidence gathered that he suffered significantly.
"I commend the immense strength and courage Ethan’s paternal family found to assist my investigation team over the past four years, and to conduct themselves with dignity throughout what was a lengthy, harrowing, and complex trial.
"My thoughts and condolences remain with them.
"I want to thank colleagues, other emergency workers, medical experts and prosecutors for the exceptional work they have carried out, through what has been an incredibly emotive, complex and protracted investigation.
"They have been driven by the determination of seeking justice for Ethan, often to the detriment of their own welfare.
"This investigation has brought out the best in policing and I personally want to thank my team for everything they have done to secure this outcome for Ethan and his family today."